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THEY have had three training sessions in total, and both teams are into it.
The East Coast under-18s got together last night, and the Wellington Centurions have had a run twice. That’s enough preparation for the opening game of the 2017 Under-18 Hurricanes Rugby Youth Council Competition.
The Coast and the Centurions first met at senior level in Ruatoria in 1986, when the visitors won 26-6, while the last meeting at u18 level was a 10-try, 71-9 win to the Centurions at the Petone Recreation Ground in 2014.
Wellington have won the u18 title a record 13 times since 1992 — neither East Coast nor Poverty Bay have yet claimed the Trustbank Central Secondary Schools Shield.
But the Coast have a history as giantkillers.
“There’s a lot of natural talent in our squad. We just want the boys to go out, express themselves and play good open rugby,” said Coast backs coach Daniel Townsend, who played 15 games for the senior side in 2007 and 2008.
“It’s about them putting boots on every Saturday, playing quality rugby and being exposed to visiting teams. There’s a career path for them now, other coaches and a real chance for higher honours.”
Townsend will be helping another sky-blue patriot in head coach Morgan Wirepa junior, whose 76-cap career between 1999 and 2013 encompassed the seasons when the Coast won the former third division competition and the Meads Cup.
The Coast u18s have played spirited rugby in the past two years without picking up a win. Their closest game last year was a 29-22 loss to Horowhenua-Kapiti in Round 3, and in 2015 Horowhenua beat them 5-0 in in Taradale.
The Coast have talented young draft players in Manaia Collins, Cruz Hinaki, Maru Kawana.
They have players with excellent skill-sets. Chase Sheridan on the openside flank is a fierce fetcher and Piripi Reid is a brave, talented fullback.
If the Coast tackle strongly and run hard, the crowd can become a factor and Uawa Domain generates theatre.
The Centurions first assembled their full squad at Boyd Wilson Park on Tuesday but despite what is a brief turnaround, the man who led the Wellington Pride to the 2011 women’s NPC final, Damian Rapira-Davies, knows the potential of his line-up.
“I want to see continuity and the boys to get the ball through the hands, without error,” he said.
The coaches wanted to get the players to understand that this was a stepping stone.
Seventeen-year-old lock Taine Plumtree of Wellington College will lead the side, while Tawa College captain Kyle Preston will be first five-eighth. On the left wing will be Scots College flyer Caleb Cavubati, whose try against Manawatu in the Division A final sealed victory for Wellington (35-10) at Hurricanes under-16 level last year.
The Pool B clash at Uawa Domain at 12.30pm tomorrow will be controlled by veteran East Coast referee Chris Wanoa and assistant referees Stacii Wanoa and Richard Tuhaka.
Chris (34 years as a referee) and Stacii (three years as a ref) will form the first father-daughter refereeing combination in the 25-year history of the tournament, while Tuhaka played three games for Wairarapa-Bush in 1997, and 38 times for Ngati Porou East Coast at hooker between 2001 and 2009.
EAST COAST (1-22): Mark-James Tuapawa, Liam Townsend, Daz Te Purei, Jeremiah Te Kira, Anton King, Erutini Walker, Chase Sheridan, Manahi Brooking, Jahnika Timmins, Te Aho Morice, Taine Te Kahika, Niao Savage, Phoenix Brown, William Martin, Piripi Reid. Reserves: Rohan Rule-Reihana, Carlos Paenga, Cairo Rule-Reihana, Ngatai Haworth, Cruz Hinaki, Maru Kawana, Romeo Schumann.
CENTURIONS (1-22): Tama Kirk, Kaitu Ioane, Tanara Haenga, Taine Plumtree (captain), Tama Kapene, Eparama Salio, Alex Faifailoa, Mitch Stringer, Kyle Preston (vice-captain), Ish Perkins, Caleb Cavubati, Olly Paotonu, Connor Fitzsimmons, Sane Chut, Jack Gray. Reserves: Tai Misa-Bryce, Taliauli Sina, Ben Strowger-Turnock, Olly Wrigley, Matiu Samuel, Maika Fifita, Elijah Tuigamala.